GTA V Heists Guide (Story Mode)

GTA V Story Mode Heists Guide

In Grand Theft Auto V story/single player mode it is possible to earn varying amounts of money depending on the methods used to carry out each heist. If you follow the instructions below you’ll maximize the amount you can get. If you want more money maximizing hints and tips then check out our general cash hints here and our stock market specific tips here. They are especially useful given there is no money cheat!

Heist 1: The Jewel Store Job

Take Rickie Lukens as your hacker. Other hackers may give you more time, but he will give you the perfect amount of time for this heist.

As for your gunman, you should unlock Packie McReary by completing his optional encounter. It is a random event in which he robs a store and needs help getting away. Once you help him, you can choose him for heists. He is just as good as Gustavo Mota, but hiring him is 2% cheaper. If you take Norm Richards as your gunman instead, he will crash during the getaway. You can grab his money by driving over his bag after the crash, which will give you more money, but you will lose Norm.

Take Karim Denz as your driver. The chase sequence will be more difficult, but he takes less of your money.

If you choose Option A instead, take Eddie Toh as your driver. He takes 6% more than Karim Denz, but will allow you to get $4,946,153 (the highest possible amount), which will leave you with $1,076,304 for Michael and $293,539 for Franklin, significant increases over the amounts you will get if you take Karim Denz along for Option A.

Score: Your total take should be a shade under $5 million with around $1.2 million going to Michael and just under $300K going to Franklin.

Heist 2: The Merryweather Heist

For the second heist, the Merryweather Heist, there is no way to make any money. Use whichever crew you want! We won’t say any more…

Score: $0

Heist 3: The Paleto Score

For the third heist, the Paleto Score, you lose money every time you or one of your crew is shot in the back. You start with a maximum possible score of $8,016,020.

If you used Packie McReary for the Jewel Store Job (Heist 1), take him as your gunman, because his stats will be raised from that heist. Otherwise, take Chef. Both cost 2% less than Gustavo Mota, even if he may be slightly superior.

On the other hand, if you choose either Norm Richards or Daryl Johns for the heist, you’ll be forced to leave that character behind. You can pick up his share for a higher take. If you want to do this we suggest using Daryl Johns (and leaving him behind) as Norm Richards can be good to use for the final heist.

Score: Your total take should be just over $8 million with around $440K going to each of Michael, Trevor and Franklin.

Heist 4: The Bureau Raid

For the fourth heist, the Bureau Raid, choose Option B (Roof Entry).

Take Rickie Lukens as your hacker (using a better hacker will have no effect) and select Norm Richards as your gunman.

As for your driver, you need to unlock Taliana Martinez by completing her optional encounter. It is a random encounter where she will be alongside the freeway in the northeast. Save her life by driving her to Sandy Shores in time. You need her as your driver because she is one of the best, and her price is 9% lower than Eddie Toh’s. On this heist, she will wait for you in an ambulance, so you completely avoid the police. If you do not have/want to unlock Taliana Martinez, take Karim Denz as your driver. If you used him in the first heist as well, he will also have an ambulance. Otherwise, you will need to escape the police in a van.

If you choose Option A, you will not get significantly less money than in Option B, but Norm Richards will die if you take him (and he is good to have for the last heist). Take Packie McReary and Gustavo Mota instead.

Score: Michael will get nothing with Franklin receiving around $240K.

Heist 5: The Big Score

For the fifth heist, the Big Score, choose Option B. It is possible to get $41,664,000 per character this way.

Take Taliana Martinez as your first driver. She will successfully fly the helicopter and only takes 5% of the money. Also take Karim Denz as your second driver, so that he drives the train. The gunmen are unnecessary, so take the two cheapest gunmen you can.

If you choose Option A, the maximum amount you can get is $34,892,000 per character. Once again, take Taliana Martinez and Karim Denz as your first and second drivers. Take either Packie McReary or Chef as your first gunman. Take Norm Richards or Daryl Johns as your second gunman. Either will save you a lot of money in this heist. Use Rickie Lukens as your hacker.

Score: Each of Trevor, Michael and Franklin should get over $41 million!

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